Significance of the anti-E2 response in self-limited and chronic hepatitisC virus infections in chimpanzees and in humans

To determine whether there was a correlation between the kinetics or freque ncy of antibody to mammalian-derived hepatitis C virus (HCV) second envelop e protein (E2) and development of chronicity or self-limitation of HCV infe ctions, serial sera were examined for anti-E2, anti-HCV with confirmation w ith Matrix 2.0 (Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, IL), and reverse transcri ptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) from 6 cases of self-limited infec tion and 6 cases of chronic infection in chimpanzees, and from 5 cases of s elf-limited infection and 3 cases of chronic infection in patients. Anti-E2 developed earlier, more frequently, and to higher titer in chimpanzees and patients who were developing chronic infection than in those with self-lim ited infections. Thus anti-E2 is unlikely to play a role in self-limitation of the infection. However, long-term persistence of anti-E2 correlates wit h chronic infection. There was little or no correlation between the timing of development of anti-E2 and anti-HCV.